Apparatus for delivering and receiving mail.



v N. J. NELSONQ, APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING AND RECEIVING MAIL. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 24. 1909.

952,574., Patented Mar. 22, 1910. 2SHEETSSHEET l.

WHY-0:400

NDREW & mum c0. FHOTO-LIYNOGRAPHmS, WASHINGTON D- C.

N. J. NELSON. APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING AND RECEIVING MAIL.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 24 1909.

Patented Mar. 22, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

sire

NELS J. NELSON, 0F RED WING, MINNESOTA.

APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING AND RECEIVING MAIL.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NELS J. NELsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Red lVing, in the county of Goodhue and State of Minnesota,have invented a new and useful Apparatus for Delivering and Receiving Mail, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for effecting the delivering of express and train orders and the interchange of mail between stations and moving cars and its object is to provide a crane of novel construction designed to be carried by a car, and which has means whereby the crane can be held projected beyond the car while the interchange of mail is being effected, and for holding the crane within the car either while it is being loaded or unloaded, or while it is not 1n use.

Another object is to provide a crane of this type having reversible means for engaging a bag-supporting frame while the car is moving in either direction.

A further object is to provide a bag-holding frame of novel form for attachment to the crane and for attachment to a structure located at the station, improved means being utilized for securing the said frame to the crane or other supporting structure.

Another object is to provide simple and efficient means for attaching one or more bags to a bag-holding frame.

lVith these and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings :-Figure l is a perspective view of the apparatus constituting the present invention, a portion of the car structure being shown, and one of the positions of the crane on the car being indicated by dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the lower end portion of the crane. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through one end portion of the station crane and showing a buffer partly in plan and partly in section. Fig. 1 is an enlarged vertical section through the lower end of the crane on the car and through a portion of the bag-supporting frame, a bag being shown suspended therefrom. Fig. 5 is a transverse section through Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. June 24', 1909.

Serial No. 504,1 13.

the lower portion of the bag-supporting frame. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the car frame and showing modified means for holding it in its various positions, one position of the crane and its holding means being indicated by dotted lines. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of another form of bag-holding frame, the bag being shown extending therefrom and partly open, this form of bag being designed to contain mail bags or other articles. Fig. 8 is a transverse section through the middle portion of the collecting bar of the fixed or station crane. Fig. 9 is a detail view showing the relative positions of the lugs on the upper holding plate and on the lip of the bag holder when said parts are assembled.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference A designates a car structure having a door opening a, across the upper end of which extends a bar 1 mounted at its ends in supporting brackets 2 which are fastened to the ambs of the door. The bar 1 constitutes the support for an elongated body strip 3, to the lower end of which is pivotally connected a holding lever 4-. A stop plate 5 is secured upon the car floor and has upstanding spaced eyes 6, between which the free end of lever t. is designed to be arranged for the purpose of holding the body 3 extended outwardly beyond the wall of the car as indicated in Fig. 1. hook 7 is attached to the opposite wall of the car, and, when the body 3 is not projected beyond the car wall, the same can be held back in the car by placing the lever l in engagement with the hook. It is of course to be understood that the lever has an opening or slot 8 therein to receive the hook. This is the position assumed by the body when the same is being loaded with one or more mail sacks, but, when the device is not in use, the same can be held up against the ceiling of the car by swinging the lever 4 downwardly and placing the free end thereof in a slot 9, formed in the upper end of a bracket 10, which is secured to one of the door-jambs.

As shown in the drawings the body 3 has an eye 11 upon its outer face and which engages the upturned end of a reversible diagonal brace 12, the upper end of this brace being detachably secured to a collar 12 on the bar 1. Parallel ears 13 extend outwardly from the body at points below Patented Mar. 22, 1910.

the brace 12, and located upon the body below these cars is a longitudinally extending sleeve 1st, having a pintle pivotally mounted within it. This pintle extends at right angles from one end of an arm 16, which is provided at its free end with a hook 1.7, and a stem 18 projects upwardly from the arm 16 at a point removed from the pintle, and is provided at its upper end with a slot 19, designed to receive one of the ears 13. A jacket 20 of rubber or other suitable cushioning material is arranged upon the stem 18 and is for the purpose hereinafter set forth. A bolt 21 extends through the two cars and serves to hold the slotted portion of the stem 18 in engagement with the car 13. It will be apparent however that by removing this bolt the arm 10 can be swung about the sleeve 1a as a center, so as to swing the slotted portion of the stem 18 into position upon the other car 13. The arm 16 will thus extend in the opposite direction and can be secured in such position by re-inserting bolt 21 into the ears.

Upper and lower plates and 28 extend outwardly from the lower end of the body 3, the upper plate being provided with outstanding ears 2%, connected by a bolt on which a cam 26 is pivotally mounted. This cam is designed to project through a slot 27 formed in the upper plate and to bind upon a lip 28 extending beyond one end of a plate 29 on which is arranged an integral loop 30 in the form of an inverted U. Downwardly and outwardly inclined flanges 31 are arranged longitudinally along the side edges of the plate 29 and located at the ends of the plate and between these flanges are downwardly extending ears 32. A link 33 is arranged below the plate and has an eye 34. at one end, which loosely engages one of the ears, there being a longitudinal slot within the link and within which a locking ring 36 is sil-dably mounted. A lever 37 is pivotally connected to the free end portion of link 03, and has a hook 38 at one end designed to engage the other car 32, while the other end of the lever is designed to be engaged by the ring 36, which thus serves to hold the hook 38 in ei'igagement with car 32, and the lever and link substantially in alinement.

Instead of constructing the plate 29 in the manner described the same can be formed of a flat. strip 39 having a loop a0 thereon similar to the loop 30 heretofore described, there being a lip 41-1 projecting beyond one side of the loop and which is similar in all respects to the lip 28 hereinbefore described. Both forms of lips have upstanding stop lugs 42 designed to abut against the plate 22 when the lip is inserted between the plates 22 and 23 and thus limit the movement of the lip between the plates. As shown particularly in Fig. 5) one of the lugs .132 is designed to extend back of one of the lugs 24, while. the other lug 12 is designed to rest between the lugs 24. The modified form of plate 39 and loop is neferably utilized as a part of a bag or sack for holding mail bags, packages, etc. said sack being preferably provided with a pair of buttons a2 adjacent its open end and designed to be engaged by loops 43 extending beyond the mouth of the bag and arranged to be crossed prior to being placed in engagement with the buttons. The loops n also extend from the bottom of the bag and are designed to be placed in engagement with the buttons. The other form of bag holding device however is separate from the bags and can be used in connection with one or more of them.

In order to attach a bag to the structure shown in Fig. 4 the lever 37 is released from the ring 36 so as to permit the hook 38 to be disengaged from the ear One or more bags are then placed below the plate 29 and above the link 38, after which the hook 08 is inserted into car 32 and lever 37 swung into a position substantially in alinement with the link 38 when the ring 36 is placed in engagement with the lever and the bag or bags thus securely clamped in place.

The crane located at the station is preferably formed of parallel uprights or standards 45, each of which has an arm at connected to its upper end the two arms alt) being connected by a collecting bar 1-7, the ends of which project beyond the arms 46 and are pointed as shown at 48. When the arms 46 are in their normal or horizontal positions the ends of this collecting strip are disposed in the paths of the loops 3O supported by the crane body 3 when the same is projected beyond the wall of the car. This bar l? has connected upper and lower plates 4:!) and 50 secured to the bottom face thereof. adjacent the center, there being cars 51 proj ecting downwardly from the lower plate 50 between which is mounted a cam 52, similar to the cam 26 heretofore referred to. This cam is utilized for securing the lips 28 or 4L1 of a loop in position between the plates 41 and 50.

Mounted upon each of the arms to is a butter or cushion, each of which consists of parallel arms slidably mounted within the arm 46 and provided at one end with a head 54 of rubber or the like, the other end of one arm being secured to a coiled spring which is fastened to arm 16, while the corresponding end of the other arm 53 is attached to a cylinder 56, slidably mounted upon a fixed piston 57, which is secured to the arm 46. Obviously any sudden impact against the head 54 will result not only in the elongation of the spring 55, but also in the movement of the cylinder 56 upon the piston 57, this resulting in the prmluction of a partial vacuum within the cylinder and a corresponding retardation of the arm and head 54.

As heretofore pointed out, when the crane body 3 is not in use the same can be supported under the ceiling of the car and close thereto by placing the free end of the lever 4 Within the opening 9 formed in the upper end of the bracket 10. hen it is desired to load the crane body the lever is disconnected from the bracket 10, and the slot 8 therein is placed at one side of the car so as to receive the hook 7 which thus serves to support the body 3 in the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1. If a holder, such as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5 is utilized, the bag to be delivered is placed below the plate 29 and clamped thereagainst by means of link 33 and lever 37 in the manner herein before described. The lip 28 is then inserted between the plates 22 and 28 extending from the crane body 3 and is secured by the cam 26. The body 3 is then swung outwardly through the door opening and beyond the wall of the car A, and is held in such position by placing the slotted free end of the lever 4 between the eyes 6 and against the plate 5. The plate 29 will thus be supported in a substantially horizontal position with the loop 30 extending upwardly there from and the bag hanging downwardly.

hen it is desired to deliver a bag to the car the same is attached to a holder such as shown for example in Figs. 4 and 5, and the lip of the holder is inserted between the plates 49 and 50 and held in position by the cam 52. \Vhen the car A passes the station where the stationary crane is located, the upstanding loop 30 carried by the car will move on to one of the pointed ends of the bar 4-7 and thus move violently against the head 54 of the cushion or buffer and causing the extension of spring 55 and the shifting of the cylinder 56. The pulling action will be suflicient to withdraw the lip of the bagholder from between the outstanding plates 22 and 23, this pulling action resulting in the loosening of the cam 25. The loop 30 will thus be deposited upon the bar 47. Vhile this operation is taking place the hooked arm 16 on the cranebody 3 moves into the upstanding loop 30 of the bagholder which is supported by the stationary crane and pulls said holder out of engagement with the cam 52 and plates 49 and 50, the loop 30 moving backwardly along the arm 16 and against the cushion 20. The hook 17 prevents the loop 30 from sliding off the arm 16 should the car come to a sudden stop. After the two bag-holders have thus been exchanged the clerk within the car A can remove the lever 4 from between the eyes 6 and carry it across to the opposite side of the car and place it in engagement with the hook 7 The loop 30 can then be removed from arm, 16. By placing the end of lever 4 in the slot 9 the crane 3 can be supported close to the ceiling of the car. If the car is traveling in the opposite direction it is necessary to swing the arm 16 so as to place the slotted stem 18 in engagement with the other ear 13 and to reverse the brace 12. Otherwise the mechanism will remain the same as has already been described.

It is of course to be understood that the form of holder shown in Fig. 7 can be used in the same manne as the holder hereinbe fore described.

Instead of utilizing the lever 4 for the purpose of holding the crane body 8 in any one of its positions, a lever such as shown at 58 in Fig. 6 may be utilized. This lever is pivotally mounted upon the bar 1 and has a head 59 at its upper end and is provided with a longitudinal slot 60. A button 61 is pivotally mounted upon the body 3 near the bar 1 and is designed, when lever 58 is at substantially right angles, to swing into the slot 60 and thus lock the lever and body against independent movement. This position of the parts has been indicated by full lines in F ig. (3. If preferred however the button 61 can be swung into position over the upper edge of the lever 58, so as to cause said lever and the body 8 to be substantially parallel, indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 6. The lever when in this position is de signed to engage a supporting chain or other device 62 extending downwardly from the ceiling of the car and which thus serves to hold the body 3 out of the 'ay when not in use.

It is of course to be understood that vari-- ous changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages of the invention.

\Vhat is claimed is:

1. In apparatus of the class described a crane including a pivotally supported hanging body, a collecting member extending therefrom, bag-holder engaging means upon the body, and means for holding the body at different angles to the horizontal.

2. In apparatus of the class described a crane including a pivotally supported hanging body, a reversible collecting arm extending therefrom, and cooperating means upon the arm and body for securing said arm in either of its positions.

3. In apparatus of the class described a crane including a pivotally supported hanging body, a reversible collecting arm pivotally mounted upon the body, cooperating means upon the arm and body for securing said arm in either of its positions, and a cushioning device carried by the arm.

4. In apparatus of the class described a pivotally supported hanging body, a collecting arm pivotally mounted upon the body,

a stem thereon, and spaced means upon the body for engaging the stem to hold the arm in either of two positions.

5. In apparatus of the class described a pivotally supported body, a collecting arm extending therefrom, a stem thereon, a cushioning device carried by the stem, spaced means upon the body for separately engaging the stem to hold the arm in either of the two positions, and means for locking the stem in such position.

6. Apparatus of the class described including a pivotally supported hanging body, separate mail collecting and delivering devices carried thereby, and means for supporting the body at different relations to the horizontal.

7. Apparatus of the class described including a pivotally support-ed hanging body, a supporting structure therefor, separate mail collecting and delivering devices upon the body, a lever pivotally connected to the body, and separate means upon the supporting structure for engaging the lever to hold the body at different angles to the supporting structure.

8. Apparatus of the class described including a pivotally supported body, upper and lower plates extending therefrom, a bag-holding device, means extending from said device for insertion between the plates, and means carried by one of the plates for securing said inserted means in position.

9. Appa'atus of the class described including a crane, upper and lower plates extending therefrom, a clamping device carried by one of the plates, a bag-holding device, and' means extending therefrom and insertible between the plates for engagement with the clamping means.

10. The combination with a car structure having a door opening, of a bar extending across the opening, a crane pivotally supported by said bar, separate mail collecting and delivering devices upon the crane, a lever pivotally connected to the crane, and separate devices within the car structure for engagement with the lever to hold the crane projected beyond or retracted within the car structure.

11. In apparatus of the class described a crane including a pivotally supported structure, a collecting device carried thereby, cushioning means in the path of the object delivered to said collecting device, spaced upper and lower plates movable with said device, clamping means carried by one of the plates, at mail-holder, and means extending fromv said holder for insertion between the plates and in engagement with the fastening device.

12. In appa 'atus of the class described a crane including a supporting structure, a body pivotally connected to said structure,

mail-collecting means movable with the body, and cushioning means carried by said body and adjacent the collecting means, said cushioning means including connected slidably mounted arms, a. cushioning head thereon, a retarding spring connected to one of the arms, and means connected to the other arm for producing a partial vacuum during the movement of said arm.

13. 111 apparatus of the class described bag-holding means including a plate, a loop upstanding therefrom, and a supporting lip extending from the plate.

14:. In appaatus of the class described bag-holding means including a base, a loop thereon, a support engaging lip extending beyond one end of the base and beyond the loop, and means upon the base for engaging and retaining a bag.

15. In apparatus of the class described a mail-bag holder including a base, a loop thereon, means extending beyond the base and loop for engaging a supporting structure, and bag-clamping means pivotally connected to and cooperating With the base to secure a bag thereto.

16. In apparatus of the class described a bag-holder including a base having downwardly diverging longitudinal flanges, a loop upstanding from the base, means extending beyond the base and loop for engaging a supporting structure, and clamping means movably connected to the base and extending between the flanges to bind the bag upon the flanges and base.

17. In apparatus of the class described bag-holding means including a base, a loop 11 )standing therefrom, a lip projecting be yond the base and loop for engaging a supporting structi'ire, a longitudinally slotted clamping member pivotally connected to the base, a locking lever pivotally connected to said member, means upon the base for on gaging the lever, and means slidably mounted upon said member for securing the lever against movement with relation to said member.

18. In apparatus of the class described a sack for holding packages and the like, one end of the sack being open, buttons adjacent the open end of the sack, loops extending beyond the mouth of the sack, and arranged to be crossed and to engage the buttons, and loops extending from the bottom of the sack, said sack being foldable to place the last mentioned loops in engagement with the buttons.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

NELS J. NELSON.

Vitnesses J. H. Bon's'rnan, AUG. H. Man'rzoLn. 

